Basal Keratins and Vimentin in Breast Cancers of Young Women, Pathologic
Basal Keratins and Vimentin in Breast Cancers of Young Women, Pathologic
Previous studies have suggested that breast cancer in young women has more aggressive biological features and poorer prognosis. However, the role of biological markers in these patients is not well understood. We aimed to learn more about this disease in a cohort of 125 young women from Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, aged 35 years or less, with invasive breast cancer by evaluating the expression of vimentin and the basal cytokeratins CK14, CK5/6 and 34βE12. Both standard paraffin sections and tissue microarrays were used in the immunohistochemical evaluation of expression patterns of these four biological markers. CK5/6, CK14, vimentin and 34βE12, in increasing order of proportion, were detected in invasive carcinomas. Basal cytokeratins and vimentin showed significant inverse relationship with estrogen and progesterone receptor status while CK14 expression was found to be directly associated with c-erbB2 status. Basal cytokeratins and vimentin immunoreactivities were directly associated with CD117 and EGFR expression. Vimentin and 34βE12 immunopositivity correlated with tumor size, while vimentin was associated with higher histological grade. Our findings are in concert with reports that expression of basal cytokeratins and vimentin is correlated with adverse pathological parameters.
Cytoplasmic intermediate filament proteins which form the cytoskeleton have been categorized into five distinct classes that differ in their biochemical and antigenic properties. They are variably expressed in different cell types and their corresponding tumors. Cytokeratins are α-type fibrous polypeptides with diameters of 7–11nm and are usually expressed in epithelial cells and carcinomas. On the other hand, vimentin is expressed in mesenchymal cells, lymphomas and sarcomas.
Cytokeratins are generally thought to be the most fundamental markers of epithelial differentiation because their specific compositions reflect both cell type and differentiation. In the breast, it has been documented that CK5/6 and CK14 have specificities for basal or high molecular weight keratins, and exhibit immunostaining mainly in the outer myoepithelial cells. 34βE12 is less specific, and can demonstrate immunoreactivity in both myoepithelial as well as luminal epithelial cells. Vimentin, however, shows expression in stromal connective tissue, wall of blood vessels, nerves and also in myoepithelial cells.
Various studies carried out previously have evaluated the expression of these cytokeratins and vimentin in human breast cancer. In this paper, we specifically examined the expression patterns of the basal cytokeratins CK5/6, CK14, 34βE12 (CK 1/5/10/14), and of vimentin in breast cancers in young women, defined as those aged 35 years or less, and correlated the findings with conventional pathological parameters.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that breast cancer in young women has more aggressive biological features and poorer prognosis. However, the role of biological markers in these patients is not well understood. We aimed to learn more about this disease in a cohort of 125 young women from Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, aged 35 years or less, with invasive breast cancer by evaluating the expression of vimentin and the basal cytokeratins CK14, CK5/6 and 34βE12. Both standard paraffin sections and tissue microarrays were used in the immunohistochemical evaluation of expression patterns of these four biological markers. CK5/6, CK14, vimentin and 34βE12, in increasing order of proportion, were detected in invasive carcinomas. Basal cytokeratins and vimentin showed significant inverse relationship with estrogen and progesterone receptor status while CK14 expression was found to be directly associated with c-erbB2 status. Basal cytokeratins and vimentin immunoreactivities were directly associated with CD117 and EGFR expression. Vimentin and 34βE12 immunopositivity correlated with tumor size, while vimentin was associated with higher histological grade. Our findings are in concert with reports that expression of basal cytokeratins and vimentin is correlated with adverse pathological parameters.
Introduction
Cytoplasmic intermediate filament proteins which form the cytoskeleton have been categorized into five distinct classes that differ in their biochemical and antigenic properties. They are variably expressed in different cell types and their corresponding tumors. Cytokeratins are α-type fibrous polypeptides with diameters of 7–11nm and are usually expressed in epithelial cells and carcinomas. On the other hand, vimentin is expressed in mesenchymal cells, lymphomas and sarcomas.
Cytokeratins are generally thought to be the most fundamental markers of epithelial differentiation because their specific compositions reflect both cell type and differentiation. In the breast, it has been documented that CK5/6 and CK14 have specificities for basal or high molecular weight keratins, and exhibit immunostaining mainly in the outer myoepithelial cells. 34βE12 is less specific, and can demonstrate immunoreactivity in both myoepithelial as well as luminal epithelial cells. Vimentin, however, shows expression in stromal connective tissue, wall of blood vessels, nerves and also in myoepithelial cells.
Various studies carried out previously have evaluated the expression of these cytokeratins and vimentin in human breast cancer. In this paper, we specifically examined the expression patterns of the basal cytokeratins CK5/6, CK14, 34βE12 (CK 1/5/10/14), and of vimentin in breast cancers in young women, defined as those aged 35 years or less, and correlated the findings with conventional pathological parameters.
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